Process for the electric fixation of gases



G. TTISOUTHGATE- PnocEssmfi THE ELECTR|C FIXATION OF GASES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1920- Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Afformjv To all whom may concern:

cesses for the Electric UNI an s'r {is F FE PROCESS FOR THE ELECTRIC FIX'ATION GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented ADI- 5, 1921 Original application filed April 11, 1918, Serial m. 227,975. Divided and this application filedNovember 22, 1920. Serial No; 425,600.

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. SOUTHGATE, a citizen of. the United States, residing at New York, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented oer:

Fixation of Gases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates'to electric fixation of gases.

This application is 2. application for S. e ectric fixation of gases filed -April 11, 1918, Serial N 0. 227975, and is intended to tain new and usefullmprovements in Pros-"1 division from my paratus therein shown.

In carrying out. my invention of an electric arc.

,cover the process carried out by the; ap

I make use 'a process for the Letters Patent for One object of my invention is to produce a very intimate contact with the arc of the whole ofthe gas or gases subjected to its influence.

Another object -of invention is to pro-' duce .a very quick chilling of the gas or gases after they have been subjected to the influence of the arc, so that the compound formed may be quickly changed from its unstable high-temperature condition to a lower temperature before dissociation has taken place to an appreciable extent.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for controlling the pressure in the reaction chamber so as to secure the greatest output of the compound with the lowest energy consumption.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure'in which the electrodes may be readily changed and the spark gap marge of any suitable length so as to be suitab e for use with any voltage, or with a hissing desirableto .after it hasv been subjected to coolin of. action of saiid'arc, compound through a tube chille by awater pound during its passage from the reaction chamber to pre-heat some of the gas before its admission to said chamber. a The means by which I-attain the forego-. mg objects willbe described with reference to'the accompanying drawing. "In the-electric fixation of gases, it is very cool the compound immediately I p the influence of; the electric arcfand heretofore this rapid with t e compound emergi from the field jacket, but bythe use of my unproved apparatus and process, the necessity, for the diluting is obviated and the emerging "gases are chilled in a-m uch more eflicient manner than is possiblejby the useof a water cooled tuba/c J- --1 4 The drawing shows a central vertical secout my improved process.

In the drawing: 1' is the casing of the reaction chamber 2.

e5 has been elfeclted by mixing cool air assing said .tion of one form of apparatus for carrying Said casing is preferably formed of insulating material and shaped as shown in the drawing-approximately in the shape of an oblate spheroid provided on one side with the eductiontube 3.

Any approved form of apparatus for re ducing the pressure in the chamber 2 is to be attached to the tube 3 and operated in any approved manner so as to vary said pressure to any desired extent.

The particular form of apparatus for redudng the pressure in the chamber 2 forms no part of my present invention.

The axis of the casing 2 is preferably igertical and there are formed at the bottom find top tapered electrode seats 4-4: which terminate in hollow cylindrical sleeves 5-5 which are threaded as at 66.

Cylindrical caps 77 provided with cylindrical threaded extensions 8-8 vare screwed upon the threaded portions 6-6 of the sleeves 5-5, and main induction tubes 9-9 are connected to the extensions 88 by means of the couplings 101u. Butterfly valves 1111 are mounted in the induction tubes 9-9 in any approved manner and provided with-handles 12-42 on through the latter serves to jected at the same time to electric ionization.

When the gas streams shown at 27-27 reach approximately the middle of the reaction chamber 2 they are subjected to the outwardly flowing streams 26 of cool gas or gases which come through the tubes 1515 and are immediately chilled thereby below the point at which dissociation of the compound can take place. i

It is to be noted that the tubes 99 are arranged to lie adjacent to the eduction tube 3 so that the heat of the gases passing pre-heat the gas passing through the former.

It is also to be noted that the velocity of the gas streams passing through the tubes '99 may be regulated by turning the butterfly valves 11 11. and thus the quantity of gas passing through the electrodes 13-18 may be regulated to such an amount as can be readily chilled by the gas or gases passing through the diii'user 21.

It is also to be noted that the apparatus which is used for producing a suction in the eduction tube 3 serves to remove the compound as the same is formed and the ingress of gas through the main induction tubes 9 and the auxiliary tubes 15 serves to scavenge the reaction chamber.

1. The herein described process of fixing atmospheric nitrogen which consists in. passing streams of gas or gases through porous electrodes simultaneously with the passage of an electric rc between said electrodes.

2. The here n described process of fixing atmospheric nitrogen which consists in passing streams of preheated gas or gases through porous electrodes simultaneously with the passage of an electric are between said electrodes and simultaneously passing a stream of cool gas across said first named streams of gas or gases and across said arc.

3. The herein described process of fixing gases which consists in passing streams of gas or gases through porous electrodes siinultaneously with the passage of an electric are between said electrodes.

In testimony whereof I affix my slgnature.

T. SOUTHGATE. 

